Bears vs. Colts: 4 biggest storylines ahead of Week 3

Sunday’s action between the Chicago Bears (1-1) and the Indianapolis Colts (0-2) is just around the corner, and morale surrounding the team is much lower than what might be expected for a team at .500 in the early portion of the year. The discontent is understandable, however, as it seems the franchise has returned to their roots, with the defense playing lights out and the offense having you wish you could watch them with the lights out. That’s to say, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ unit has been abysmal.

The offense has a solid opportunity to gain some sort of identity and put some points on the board against the Colts, who have been vulnerable on defense through the first two weeks. While Williams attempts to lead his men to the endzone, the defense has the challenge of keeping explosive dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson and proven star running back Jonathan Taylor in check.

Lucas Oil Stadium will be rocking as the Bears try to score an upset and move on to 2-1 on the year. Let’s break down the four biggest storylines ahead of Bears vs. Colts in Week 3.

1. Can the offense produce points?

This an embarrassing question to even posit. Is there any other NFL team that needs to look in the mirror and ask this same question through just the first two weeks of the season? That is how downright putrid the offense has looked in the early stages of the season. Let’s uncover our eyes to look at the stats: the unit scored just one touchdown through eight quarters, and they’re responsible for only nine points total. Rookie Caleb Williams and friends are in complete disarray, and a more complete effort against the vulnerable Colts would be the breakthrough the club needs.

There are several aspects of the unit that need to drastically raise their level of play, and the finger first needs to be pointed at the offensive line. There’s no need in belaboring what I’m getting at – the O-line has performed terribly, and their ability to round into shape will decide how effective the Bears’ offense will be. The running backs have bore the brunt of the punishment that was onset but their lineman’s incompetence, and starter D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and possibly even Roschon Johnson may see an uptick in production tomorrow.

On that note, Herbert and Johnson need much more playing time. Swift is dynamic, but a player’s potency to hit a homerun doesn’t mean anything if he’s being hounded by several defenders as soon as he touts the ball. The passing attack needs to be better as well, which means Williams has to get on the same page with his receivers and tight ends to move the ball more efficiently. The offense has to match the defense’s production and turn the short drives they provide into points on the board for the team.

2. Will the Bears get the run game going?

Conversation on the run game is an entity all in itself, which is why it gets its own section here. The Bears have a chance to make an emphatic statement running the football on Sunday, and it would be a huge boon for Williams in the pass game. Indianapolis has one of the worst run-stopping units in the league, especially now with former All-Pro defensive lineman DeForest Buckner getting placed on IR.

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron should seize the opportunity to gash their opponent and set the offense up with favorable situations on third down and in the red zone. Swift should be featured in this role, but Herbert and Johnson cannot be relegated to benchwarmers as they were the first two weeks. They bring into the game a skillset that Swift doesn’t have, and that could go a long way in keeping defenders off-balance and keeping the running back rotation fresh. The makings of a classic smash-mouth football game are all there – Chicago just has to execute at a high level to make it a reality.

3. Can the defense stop the Colts' offensive weapons?

The product the defense has put on tape as opposed to the offense is night and day. Through 2024’s limited sample size, the group obliterated the Titans in Week 1 and made the high-octane Texans offense look tame in Week 2, though Houston got their punches in. There’s no denying the defense’s continuity from last year and their abundant talent has made them one of the league’s fiercest units, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. This is the league that coined the phrase “Any Given Sunday”, so there’s a chance that the Colts’ dangerous duo of quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor could topple the stingy Bears’ defense this Sunday.

In any case, the unit cannot take their foot off the gas, even for 0-2 Indianapolis. Though any sign of efficient offense was absent in their loss to Green Bay last week, they did go blow for blow with the Texans, coming up short in a shoot-out. I believe it’s fair to label the Colts as streaky, which means the coin may flip on an outcome unfavorable for the navy blue and orange.

As I detailed in the keys for the defense article, keeping the lid on Taylor on the ground and containing Richardson in the pocket and making him beat them with his accuracy is how Chicago will find success. The defensive backs would do well to stay vigilant in coverage, as Richardson is known for launching the ball deep and beating defenses over the top. Overall, the defense just needs to continue their strong play, and the Bears will be much closer to a win.

4. Can the Bears keep penalties to a minimum?

Undisciplined play often leads to penalties, and that rule certainly pertains to the Bears. They have committed at least eight penalties in their first two games, and it has often derailed promising drives on offense. Their struggles are an indictment of head coach Matt Eberflus and the rest of the coaching staff, as it’s their job to ensure their team plays a clean game. Even cutting the amount of penalties in half would put the club in a much better position to win games. They have a straightforward goal in Week 3: play clean football.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Colts: 4 biggest storylines ahead of Week 3